Merchandise display table



Oct. 14, 1941.

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY TABLE L. ROSELYN 2,258,689

Filed May 31, 1940 /2 2/ 34 INVENTOR. Leo Pose-4 YN BY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE 2,258,689 MERCHANDISE DISPLAY TABLE Leo Roselyn, San Francisco, Calif.

Application May 31, 1940, Serial No. 338,134

1 Claim.

The invention, in general, relates to store fixtures. More particularly, the invention relates to a convertible table as well as an adapter unit for converting tables to aiford the reception and display of a multiplicity of types of goods from a single, unitary structure.

It is probably well known that in substantially all department stores as well as in stores handling specialty goods or single lines, it has become the practice to employ and set up a number of different styles .or types of tables, counters, cabinets, cases or the like for effectively holding and attractively displaying merchandise, whether it be package goods or piece goods. The conventional display tables, especially those used in department stores, fall into two general classes. One type, used extensively, comprises a fiat top table for holding various items of package goods while the other general type comprises a flat surface with an upstanding rim bounding the perimeter of the top. Often, in the rush of business, the former type is pressed into service for handling all classes of merchandise, whether it be packaged or merely piece goods, with the result that piece goods are brushed therefrom and either badly damaged or entirely lost.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a merchandise display table of the indicated character which is readily and quickly convertible from one form to another to meet variable requirements for the display of different types of goods.

Another object of my invention is to provide a table of the aforementioned character which affords a dual function in that either piece goods or package goods can be displayed thereon without likelihood of becoming damaged or brushed from the table.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an adapter unit for a merchandise table affording convenient and ready convertibility from one type of table to another.

Another object of my invention is to provide I a structure of the aforementioned character which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, parts thereof being broken away to show the arrangement of parts and construction.

Figure 2 is a view of my preferred embodiment taken on the section line 2-2 of Figure 1, this View showing the table top in one of its operative positions.

Figure 3 is a view similar to the showing of Figure 2 but with the top supported in another of its operative positions.

Figure 4 is a view of the preferred embodiment of my invention, taken on the section line ll of Figure 1. V

Figure 5 is a reduced perspective of the preferred embodiment of my invention, as exemplified in a merchandise table for display of goods.

In its preferred form, the merchandise display table of my invention preferably comprises a frame, a rim on said frame a rack movably mounted on said frame, cam runners on said rack, a table top, cams depending from said top engaging said cam runners of said rack; said top being adapted to seat on said frame in one operative position with said rim extending above the upper surface of said top and extending entirely around the perimeter thereof, or to be disposed in a number of intermediate operative positions as well as fiush with the top of the rim, and means for moving said rack to raise said top through the medium of said cam runners and cams whereby said top can be brought either flush with the top of said rim or to any relative position; movement of said rack in the opposite direction effecting a lowering of said table top for seating on said frame,or any desired intermediate position.

While I have specified that my invention is primarily directed to tables generally employed in department stores, the invention is entirely suitable for adaptation to practically any type of supporting means for holding articles and can be exemplified in many different types of fixtures, including showcases, counters and the like. For purposes of description and explanation only, I have depicted the invention and shall hereinafter describe the same in the department store table environment; the drawing illustrating my invention as exemplified in such types of tables.

As particularly illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, I provide a rectangular frame I l which may be fabricated of a wood or a metal, as desired, and which defines a relatively large opening bounded by a pair of vertically disposed sides l2 and I3, and a pair of vertically disposed ends l4 and I5. The frame II also includes a pair of side strips l6 extending interiorly.

of the frame at substantially right angles from adjacent the bottoms of the sides l2 and I3; each strip It being horizontally disposed and having a flat upper surface I! which serve as tracks for cam runners hereinafter described. To lend rigidity to the frame, a pair of end bracing strips I8 are connected across the side strips I6. Each of the sides I2, I3 as well as each of the ends I4, I of the frame preferably is off-set adjacent the top thereof, as indicated by the reference numeral I9, to provide an element of the adapter unit for tables of my invention as hereinafter described. The frame II also is provided with a vertically disposed rim 2| which conveniently may be made up in sections and which is secured by nails, or other suitable fastening means, to the exterior surfaces of the sides I2, I3 and ends I4, I5 of the frame adjacent to the tops thereof so as to extend above and entirely around the sides and ends of the frame, as clearly depicted in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing. Each of the rim sections is preferably beveled at the top thereof, as indicated by the reference numeral 22, and is so formed as to provide a depending tongue 23 thereon which, in conjunction with the offset portions I 9 of the sides and ends of the frame, defines a recess 24 extending entirely around the frame.

The unitary structure thus far described constitutes an adapter unit which may be fitted to the rim 25 of a conventional table after the top thereof has been removed, the rim of the table being insertable intothe recess 24 to interlock with the frame II, including the rim 2| thereof, all as depcited in Figure 2 of the drawing. It is, of course, to be appreciated that the frame II can be constructed to any desired dimensions, and that the rim 2| can also be so formed as to meet requirements of interlocking engagement with the rim of the table to which the adapter unit is to be applied. Moreover, that the frame II does not necessarily have to be formed to a rectangular shape but can be formed to any desired or predetermined configuration even to the extent of having but three or less sides or ends, the essential portion of the frame II and rim 2| combination being the provision of the recess 24 for receiving the rim of the table to which the unit is applied.

The convertible merchandise table of my invention includes a top 26 which is adapted, in one operative position, to seat upon the vertically disposed sides I2, I3 and vertically disposed ends I4, I5 of the frame I| below the rim 2|; to lie flush with the top of the rim 2| in another operative position; or to be supported in any desired position relative to the rim 2|, together with means for raising and lowering the top 26 at will, and for retaining the same in any selected one of such positions. The means which I preferably employ to effect the raising and lowering of the table top 26 comprises a rack 21 which is movably supported on frame II, together with cam runners 28 on the rack which cooperate with cams 29 depending from the table top 26 and engaging the cam runners 28 of the rack 21; the cams of the table top conveniently be secured thereto by means of bracing blocks 30. To this end, I preferably form. the rack 21 to a general H-shape to provide thereon a pair of end pieces 3| and 32 which span the side strips I6 of the frame II and which are connected together by a tie-piece 33. Preferably, two cam runners 28 are provided on each side of the rack 21 and conveniently are so connected to the extremities of the end pieces 3|, 32 of the rack so as to ride upon the upper surfaces or tracks H of the side strips I6 of the frame. Similarly, the table top 26 is provided with four cams 29, two of which depend from each side thereof and which are so disposed as to be in overlying engagement with the cam runners 28 of the track 21. The cams and cam runners preferably are all formed to the same shape so that each includes an inclined or sloping portion 34 merging with a flat portion 35; and the cams 29 of the table top 26 are so disposed that they present the inclined and fiat portions 34 and 35 thereof to the inclined and flat portions of the cam runners 23 of the rack for cooperative engagement therebetween, all as clearly depicted in Figures 2' and 3 of the drawing.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a lever i. for moving rack 27 relative to the frame I I from one end thereof to the other end, thereby.

moving the cam runners 28 of the rack 21 relative to the cams 29 of the table top 28 whereby the positions of the table top may be adjusted from one operative position to another, at will, so as to convert the table to a type in which the table has a flat top or surface with the top 26 lying flush with the beveled tops 22 of the rim 2| of frame II, or to the rim type table wherein the top 26 lies below the top 22 of the rim 2| of the frame II, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawing. To this end, lever 4| conveniently is pivotally mounted on one side strip I6 of the frame II and is fulcrumed on a pin 42 extending from tie-piece 33 of the rack, the pin 42 passing through a slot 43 formed in the lever 4| and riding on the edges of the slot as the lever is thrown or swung on its pivot from one position to another. Preferably, the pivotal mounting of the lever 4| is effected by reducing the inner end of the lever for reception thereof in a recess or groove formed in the one side strip I6 of the frame; the reduced extremity of the lever 4| being apertured to pass a pivot pin 44 therethrough. With reference to Figure 3 of the drawing, wherein the table top 28 is depicted in its completely raised position with its upper surface flush with the beveled top 22 of the rim 2|, it will be observed that rack 2'! is in a position adjacent to end I4 of the frame and that the fiat portions 35 of the cam runners 28 and cams 29 are in engagement to support the table top 26 rigidly in this raised position. In Figure 2 of the drawing, the table top 26 is shown in its maximum lowered position seated on top of the sides and ends of the frame I I and it will be noted that rack 21 has been shifted to a position adjacent end I5 of theframe and remote from end 4 thereof; the sloping portions 34 of the cams 25 and cam runners 28 being in engagement. It will be clear from a study of the showings, that the table top 25 can be effectively retained in any selected one of a plurality of operative positions to which it may be moved, without likelihood of displacement thereof from such positions without the application of excessive weight or other external force, since in each shifting of the rack 2'! by manipulations of the lever 4|, fulcrumed on the tie-piece 33 of the rack, the cams and cam runners effectively engage each other to support the table top. While I have illustrated a pivotally mounted, fulcrumed slotted lever for effecting the movement of rack 21 relative to frame II, any other suitable means can be utilized for accomplishing this result. Moreover, the detail of construction of cooperating cam runners and cams on the rack and table top, respectively, can

be modified, as desired, without departing from the scope of the invention herein exemplified.

It is to be understood that it is not essential that the convertible or adjustable table of my invention be so constructed as to form the recesses 2 1 by the provision of off-sets I9 on the sides and ends of the frame and the depending tongues 23 on the rim 2|. For, the foregoing form is primarily set up to provide an adapter unit for tables in use, as above explained, and it is to be understood that such off-set portions and tongues on the rim sections can be eliminated in the construction of a complete table, counter, showcase, cabinet or the like embodying my invention.

I claim:

A merchandise display unit comprising a frame including a pair of vertically disposed sides and a pair of vertically disposed ends connecting said sides, a rim fastened to the exterior surfaces of said sides and ends to extend above the same, a rack movably supported on said frame, cam runners on said rack, a table top, cams depending from said top and engaging said cam runners; said table top being adapted in one operative position to seat on the tops of said sides and said ends below said rim and being adapted in another operative position to lie flush with the top of said rim, and means for moving said rack to raise and lower said table top through the medium of said engaging cam runners and cams.

LEO ROSELYN. 

